cDNA synthesis improvements

ABSTRACT

The present invention generally relates to methods of making cDNA molecules and cDNA libraries. The invention also relates to cDNA molecules and cDNA libraries produced according to these methods, as well as to vectors and host cells containing such cDNA molecules and libraries. The invention also relates to kits for making the cDNA molecules and libraries of the invention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/515,513, filed Feb. 29, 2000, which claims the benefit, under 35U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/122,395, filed onMar. 2, 1999, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of molecular and cellularbiology. The invention generally relates to methods of synthesizingcDNA. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods ofincreasing the average cDNA insert size and more particularly, toincreasing the percentage of full-length cDNA present within cDNAlibraries. Thus, the present invention provides improved cDNA librariesuseful in gene discovery.

In examining the structure and physiology of an organism, tissue orcell, it is often desirable to determine its genetic content. Thegenetic framework of an organism is encoded in the double-strandedsequence of nucleotide bases in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which iscontained in the somatic and germ cells of the organism. The geneticcontent of a particular segment of DNA, or gene, is only manifested uponproduction of the protein which the gene encodes. In order to produce aprotein, a complementary copy of one strand of the DNA double helix (the“coding” strand) is produced by polymerase enzymes, resulting in aspecific sequence of ribonucleic acid (RNA). This particular type ofRNA, since it contains the genetic message from the DNA for productionof a protein, is called messenger RNA (mRNA).

Within a given cell, tissue or organism, there exist many mRNA species,each encoding a separate and specific protein. This fact provides apowerful tool to investigators interested in studying genetic expressionin a tissue or cell. mRNA molecules may be isolated and furthermanipulated by various molecular biological techniques, thereby allowingthe elucidation of the full functional genetic content of a cell, tissueor organism.

A common approach to the study of gene expression is the production ofcomplementary DNA (cDNA) clones. In this technique, the mRNA moleculesfrom an organism are isolated from an extract of the cells or tissues ofthe organism. This isolation often employs solid chromatographymatrices, such as cellulose or agarose, to which oligomers of thymidine(T) have been complexed. Since the 3′ termini on most eukaryotic mRNAmolecules contain a string of adenosine (A) bases, and since A binds toT, the mRNA molecules can be rapidly purified from other molecules andsubstances in the tissue or cell extract. From these purified mRNAmolecules, cDNA copies may be made using the enzyme reversetranscriptase (RT) or DNA polymerases having RT activity, which resultsin the production of single-stranded cDNA molecules. The single-strandedcDNAs may then be converted into a complete double-stranded DNA copy(i.e., a double-stranded cDNA) of the original mRNA (and thus of theoriginal double-stranded DNA sequence, encoding this mRNA, contained inthe genome of the organism) by the action of a DNA polymerase. Theprotein-specific double-stranded cDNAs can then be inserted into avector, which is then introduced into a host bacterial, yeast, animal orplant cell, a process referred to as transformation or transfection. Thehost cells are then grown in culture media, resulting in a population ofhost cells containing (or in many cases, expressing) the gene ofinterest or portions of the gene of interest.

This entire process, from isolation of mRNA to insertion of the cDNAinto a vector (e.g., plasmid, viral vector, cosmid, etc.) to growth ofhost cell populations containing the isolated gene or gene portions, istermed “cDNA cloning.” If cDNAs are prepared from a number of differentmRNAs, the resulting set of cDNAs is called a “cDNA library,” anappropriate term since the set of cDNAs represents a “population” ofgenes or portions of genes comprising the functional genetic informationpresent in the source cell, tissue or organism. Genotypic analysis ofthese cDNA libraries can yield much information on the structure andfunction of the organisms from which they were derived.

The ability to increase the total amount of cDNA produced, and moreparticularly to produce a cDNA libraries having an increase in theaverage size of the cDNA molecules and/or to produce cDNA librarieshaving an increase in the percentage of full-length cDNA molecules wouldprovide a significant advance in cDNA library construction.Specifically, such advances would greatly improve the probability offinding full-length genes of interest.

Ideally, synthesis of a cDNA molecule initiates at or near the 3′termini of the mRNA molecules. Priming of cDNA synthesis at the 3′termini at the poly A tail using an oligo(dT) primer ensures that the 3′message of the mRNAs will be represented in the cDNA molecules produced.Priming which occurs within the mRNA molecules (internal priming)results in synthesis of cDNA molecules which do not contain thefull-length message for the genes of interest. That is, internal primingresults in truncated cDNA molecules which contain only a portion of thegene or genes of interest. Typically, internal priming causes a loss ofthe 3′ sequences from the message population. Thus, internal priminglowers the total amount of cDNA produced, decreases the average insertsize of cDNA molecules for a cDNA library and/or decreases thepercentage of full-length cDNA molecules in a given cDNA library.Sequencing analysis has indicated that many eukaryotic mRNAs haveinternal poly adenylation stretches which may serve as a priming sitewhen an oligo(dT) primer is used for first strand cDNA synthesis withreverse transcriptase. Moreover, research has shown that some mRNAs canhave as many as 16 internal priming sites (Lovett, M., et al., Theconstruction of full-length cDNA libraries by conventional methods and anovel double capture technique, University of Texas Southwestern MedicalCenter, Dallas, Tex., presented at the 48^(th) Annual Meeting held byThe American Society of Human Genetics, Oct. 27-31, 1998, Denver,Colo.). Thus, internal priming of the primer to such internal poly Asequences may adversely affect cDNA synthesis.

The present invention alleviates, prevents, reduces or substantiallyreduces internal priming thereby providing improvements in cDNA and cDNAlibrary construction. Accordingly, the present invention greatlyfacilitates gene discovery by providing cDNA libraries containing agreater percentage of full-length genes.

The present invention therefore relates to synthesizing a cDNA moleculeor molecules from an mRNA template or population of mRNA templates underconditions sufficient to increase the total amount of cDNA produced,increase the length of the cDNA molecules produced, and/or increase theamount or percentage of full-length cDNA molecules produced. Inaccordance with the invention, any conditions which inhibit, prevent,reduce or substantially reduce internal priming may be used. Suchconditions preferably include but are not limited to optimizing primerconcentrations, optimizing reaction temperatures and/or optimizingprimer length or specificity. Such result may also be accomplished inaccordance with the invention by optimizing the reverse transcriptionreaction, preferably by inhibiting or preventing reverse transcriptionuntil optimum or desired reaction conditions are achieved.

Conventional methods for constructing cDNA libraries use a molar ratioof oligo(dT) primer/mRNA template of 15:1 for first strand cDNAsynthesis. The use of such excess amounts of oligo(dT) primer allowsinternal priming of one or more primers to one or more of the mRNAtemplates in the reaction. According to a preferred aspect of thepresent invention, the amount of oligo(dT) primer is reduced forsynthesis of first strand cDNA to inhibit, prevent, reduce orsubstantially reduce internal priming. Preferred molar ratios of primerto template range from about 12:1; 10:1; 9:1; 8:1; 7:1; 6:1; 5:1; 4:1;3:1; 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:4; 1:5; 1:6; 1:7; 1:8; 1:9; 1:10 and 1:12.Preferably, molar ratios of primer (e.g., oligo(dT)) to template (e.g.,mRNA) range from about 5:1 to about 1:20, although lower molar ratios ofprimer to template may be used in accordance with the invention.Specifically, molar ratios of primer to template may be below about1:10; 1:15; 1:20; 1:25; 1:50; 1:75; and 1:100. Preferably, ranges ofmolar ratios are below about 5:1; 4:1; 3:1; 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; 1:3; 1:4; and1:5. Most preferably, ratios of primer to template range from about 10:1to 1:10; 5:1 to 1:10; 4:1 to 1:10; 3:1 to 1:10; 2.5:1 to 1:10; 2:1 to1:10; 1.5:1 to 1:10; and 1:1 to 1:10. The optimum ratios of primer totemplate may vary depending on the primer, mRNA, reverse transcriptionenzyme and reaction conditions (annealing temperature, buffering salts,etc.). The desired primer to template ratios can be readily determinedby one skilled in the art.

In conventional methods of cDNA library construction, annealing orhybridizing primer to template is not carried out at a temperature whichprevents, inhibits, reduces or substantially reduces internal priming.Typically, the mixture (e.g., mRNA and oligo(dT) primer) is chilled onice after denaturation or heating. This process typically causesannealing or hybridization of the primer to internal sites. According toa preferred aspect of the present invention, the temperature during theannealing or hybridization between the primer and the template ismaintained so that internal priming is inhibited, prevented, reduced orsubstantially reduced. In accordance with the invention, such a resultis accomplished by carrying out primer annealing or hybridization athigher temperatures. Such conditions may also reduce the formation ofmRNA secondary structures during cDNA synthesis. Preferably,temperatures for annealing or hybridizing primers to the templates rangefrom about 10° C. to about 90° C.; more preferably about 10° C. to about80° C.; still more preferably about 20° C. to about 75° C.; morepreferably about 25° C. to about 75° C.; still more preferably about 30°C. to about 65° C.; still more preferably about 37° C. to about 60° C.;still more preferably about 40° C. to about 60° C.; still morepreferably about 45° C. to about 60° C.; still more preferably about 45°C. to about 55° C.; and most preferably about 45° C. to about 65° C. Thetemperature used may vary depending on the type and amount of primer andtemplate and depending on the temperature optimum of the reversetranscription enzyme. The optimum temperature or temperature ranges canbe readily determined by one skilled in the art.

Conventional methods for cDNA synthesis typically requires the use ofoligo(dT) primers of a particular length (12-18 bases or mer). Suchprimer length, however, lowers specificity of the primer therebyallowing internal priming. Thus, the invention also relates toincreasing specificity of the primers to prevent, inhibit, reduce orsubstantially reduce internal priming. In a preferred aspect, primerspecificity is increased by increasing the length of the primer. Thus,for cDNA synthesis, longer oligo(dT) primers may be used in accordancewith the invention. Preferably, primer length ranges from about 20 toabout 100 bases, about 20 to about 75 bases, about 20 to about 60 bases,and about 20 to about 50 bases; more preferably about 20 to about 45bases; more preferably about 20 to about 40 bases; and most preferablyabout 25 to about 35 bases. In a preferred aspect, the length of theprimers are greater than 19 bases; more preferably greater than about 20bases; more preferably greater than about 25 bases; and still morepreferably greater than about 30 bases. Such primer lengths refer to thelength of the primers which anneal or hybridize to the template. Optimumlength and content (nucleotide sequence) of the primers may varydepending on the type of template, the desired reaction conditions, andthe reverse transcription enzyme. In accordance with the invention,additional sequences and/or modified nucleotides may be included in theprimers of the invention. For example, additional sequences (which donot necessarily anneal or hybridize to the template) may be included inthe primers of the invention to assist in cDNA synthesis includingsequences comprising one or more restriction endonuclease sites, one ormore derivative nucleotides (e.g., hapten containing nucleotides such asbiotinylated nucleotides), and the like. The type and length of theprimers used in accordance with the invention can be readily determinedby one or more skilled in the art.

Conventional cDNA synthesis methods do not control or vary activity ofthe reverse transcription enzyme to optimize the reverse transcriptionreaction. In accordance with the invention, the activity of the reversetranscriptase is preferably controlled to start synthesis at a desiredtime in the reaction. In a preferred aspect, reverse transcriptaseactivity is inhibited or prevented until optimum or desired reactionconditions are achieved. Such a result is accomplished in accordancewith the invention by the use of inhibitors (such as antibodies orantibody fragments) which inhibit reverse transcriptase activity. Suchreverse transcriptase inhibitors prevent or inhibit reversetranscriptase activity at low temperatures such that internal priming isprevented, inhibited, reduced or substantially reduced. In accordancewith the invention, such inhibitors preferably prevent reversetranscriptase activity below 35° C., below 40° C., below 45° C., below50° C., below 55° C., below 60° C., below 65° C., below 70° C., below75° C., below 80° C., below 85° C. and below 90° C. Depending on thethermostability of the enzyme having reverse transcriptase activity, theinhibitor may be designed to inhibit activity of the enzyme at a pointat or near the temperature optimum for the enzyme of interest.Preferably, the inhibitor is inactivated at a temperature below or nearthe temperature optimum of the enzyme used, thereby allowing reversetranscription to take place. Thus, the invention generally relates tothe use of reverse transcriptase inhibitors in cDNA synthesis. The typeand amount of inhibitor may vary depending on the type and amount ofreverse transcription enzyme and depending on the reaction conditions tobe used. The type of inhibitor and conditions used with such inhibitorcan be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In accordance with the invention, any one or a combination of the aboveimprovements to cDNA synthesis may be used. Using any one or acombination of these improvements provides for improved first strandcDNA synthesis (e.g., more total cDNA, larger cDNA and/or morefull-length cDNA). In accordance with the invention, the first strandcDNA molecules may be used as templates to make one or more doublestranded nucleic acid molecules (e.g., double strand cDNA molecules) byincubating one or more of the first strand cDNA molecules produced bythe methods of the invention under conditions sufficient to make one ormore nucleic acid molecules complementary to all or a portion of thefirst strand cDNA molecules. Conditions for making double strandednucleic acid molecules preferably include incubation with one or morecomponents consisting of one or more DNA polymerases, one or morenucleotides, one or more buffering salts, and one or more primers. Inanother aspect of the invention, such conditions are modified to providean increase in the total amount of double stranded cDNA produced, anincrease in the length or size of the double stranded cDNA moleculeproduced, and/or an increase in percentage full-length double strandedcDNA molecule produced. Preferably, such conditions relate tooptimization of ribonuclease (RNase) digestion after first strand cDNAsynthesis. During first strand cDNA synthesis, if a full-length cDNAmolecule complementary to the mRNA template is not made, a singlestranded mRNA containing the cap structure will be present at the 5′ endof the mRNA of the mRNA/cDNA hybrid. If a full-length cDNA is produced,a double stranded mRNA/cDNA hybrid is produced with no single strandedmRNA present. Preferably, such digestion conditions are optimized sothat the single stranded mRNA of the mRNA/cDNA double stranded moleculesformed during first strand cDNA synthesis is subject to RNase digestion.In this manner, cap structure from mRNA/cDNA hybrids which are notfull-length are removed while full-length mRNA/cDNA hybrids will retainthe cap structure. Thus, cap capture can be used to select forfull-length molecules and select against molecules which are notfull-length. In a preferred aspect, the conditions are such that thesingle stranded mRNA of the mRNA/cDNA hybrid is digested or degradedwhile the mRNA of the double stranded mRNA/cDNA hybrid is not degradedor not substantially degraded. Thus, such RNase digestion is conductedunder conditions such that second strand synthesis is not substantiallyadversely affected. That is, second strand synthesis in accordance withthe invention produces larger double stranded cDNA molecules compared toconventional techniques. Conventional RNase I conditions typically rangefrom 25 u/μg to 40 u/μg mRNA at 37° C. and RNase A conditions typicallyare 1000 ng/μg mRNA at 37° C. Using conventional RNase digestion, theaverage size of double stranded cDNA molecules produced is about 200bases. According to the present invention the average size of doublestranded cDNA molecules produced is preferably greater than about 300bases, greater than about 400 bases, greater than about 500 bases,greater than about 600 bases, greater than about 700 bases, greater thanabout 800 bases, greater than about 900 bases, greater than about 1kilobase, greater than about 1.5 kilobases, and greater than about 2kilobases. In one embodiment of the invention, the concentration of theribonuclease, the type of ribonuclease and reaction conditions areoptimized to improve double stranded cDNA synthesis in accordance withthe invention. Preferred ribonucleases for use in ribonucleasedigestions include ribonuclease A (RNase A) and/or ribonuclease I (RNaseI). Generally, lower temperatures (about 4° C. to about 50° C.) andhigher salt concentrations (about 5 mM to about 5 M) will assist ininhibiting or controlling RNase digestion in accordance with theinvention. Salts used may include sodium chloride, potassium, chloride,magnesium chloride, sodium acetate etc. Additionally, lowering RNaseamounts or concentrations may be used to accomplish the desired result.Such concentrations for RNase A may range from about 0.001 ng/μg mRNA toabout 500 ng/μg of mRNA and for RNase I may range from about 0.001 u/μgmRNA to about 500 u/μg mRNA. The incubation temperature, RNaseconcentration and salt concentration may be readily determined by oneskilled in the art. In a preferred aspect, concentration of the RNase Ainclude ranges from 0.1 ng/μg mRNA to 10 ng/μg mRNA in TE buffer (10 mMTris, pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA) at 37° C. Alternatively, the concentration ofthe RNase A can include ranges from 0.1 ng/μg mRNA to 500 ng/μg mRNA in10 mM Tris, pH 7.5 buffer containing 250 mM NaCl at 25° C. for 30minutes. Preferably, concentration of the RNase I used ranges from 0.1unit/μg mRNA to 1.0 unit/μg mRNA in 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM EDTA(pH 8.0), 200 mM sodium acetate at 37° C. Alternatively, theconcentration of the RNase I can be used at ranges from 1.0 unit/μg mRNAto 100 units/μg mRNA in the same buffer at 25° C. for 30 minutes.

In another aspect, the invention relates to capture or binding of thecap structure (e.g., m⁷ GpppN) of the mRNA before, during or after firststrand cDNA synthesis. Thus, the invention relates to selection of mRNA(before first strand synthesis) or mRNA/cDNA hybrids (after or duringfirst strand synthesis) which have the cap structure in carrying out themethods of the invention. Such selection or capture may be accomplishedwith any cap binding molecule such as eIF4E, eIF4E peptides, eIF4Epeptide fragments (see WO 98/08865) and antibodies or antibody fragmentsspecific for cap structure. In a preferred aspect, selection of the capstructure is accomplished after first strand synthesis. More preferably,such cap capture occurs after ribonuclease digestion in accordance withthe methods of the invention. For example, mRNA/cDNA hybrids subjectedto ribonuclease digestion are captured and then used for second strandcDNA synthesis according to the invention.

Thus, the present invention is generally directed to methods ofsynthesizing nucleic acid molecules. The present invention is morespecifically directed to methods of making one or more nucleic acidmolecules, especially cDNA molecules or cDNA libraries, comprisingmixing one or more nucleic acid templates (preferably mRNA, poly A RNAor a population of mRNA molecules) with at least one polypeptide havingreverse transcriptase activity, and incubating the mixture underconditions sufficient to make one or more first nucleic acid molecules(e.g., first strand cDNA) complementary to all or a portion of the oneor more nucleic acid templates. In accordance with the invention, suchconditions provide for an increased total amount of nucleic acidmolecule (cDNA) produced, compared to conventional procedures which donot employ the improved modifications or conditions of the invention.The invention also provides for an increase of length or average size ofthe nucleic acid molecules (cDNA) produced and/or an increase in thepercentage or amount of full-length nucleic acid molecules (cDNA)produced, compared to conventional procedures which do not employ theimproved modifications or conditions of the invention. Determining theamount, length and full-length content of the cDNA produced can bedetermined by conventional techniques well known in the art and asdescribed herein. The percentage or average percentages of full-lengthcDNA in cDNA libraries produced in accordance with the invention arepreferably above about 15%, more preferably above about 20%, morepreferably above about 25%, more preferably above about 30%, morepreferably above about 40%, more preferably above about 50%, morepreferably above about 60%, more preferably above about 70%, morepreferably above about 80% and most preferably above about 90%. Suchfull-length percentages are preferably determined by random selection ofa portion of the clones of the cDNA library of interest (e.g., 100 to1000 clones), sequencing the clones and comparing the sequences to knownsequence data bases.

In preferred aspects of the invention, the improved results of theinvention are preferably accomplished by one or a combination ofmodifications to the conditions for nucleic acid or cDNA synthesis. Suchconditions preferably include modifications for improving first strandcDNA synthesis and/or improving second strand cDNA synthesis.

In a preferred aspect, the invention specifically relates to methods ofmaking one or more double stranded cDNA molecules comprising incubatingone or more mRNA molecules (preferably a population of mRNA molecules)with one or more primers of the invention at temperatures and primerconcentrations to prevent, inhibit, reduce or substantially reduceinternal priming prior to or during first strand cDNA synthesis. Suchreaction is preferably conducted in the presence of one or moreinhibitors of reverse transcriptase activity in accordance with theinvention. Ribonuclease digestion is preferably conducted before secondstrand cDNA synthesis and at ribonuclease concentrations sufficient toincrease the length, amount and/or size of double stranded cDNAmolecules produced during second strand synthesis. In accordance withthe invention, cap capture is preferably accomplished during or afterthe ribonuclease digestion.

The invention is also directed to nucleic acid molecules and cDNAmolecules or populations of cDNA molecules (single or double-stranded)produced according to the above-described methods and to vectors(particularly expression vectors) comprising these nucleic acidmolecules and cDNA molecules. The invention also relates to host cellscontaining such cDNA molecules and/or vectors.

The invention is also directed to kits for use in the methods of theinvention. Such kits can be used for making single or double-strandednucleic acid molecules. The kits of the invention comprise a carrier,such as a box or carton, having therein one or more containers, such asvials, tubes, bottles and the like. Such kits may comprise at least onecomponent selected from the group consisting of primers (preferablyprimers having higher specificity and most preferably oligo(dT) primershaving a length equal to or greater than 20 bases), one or morepolypeptides having reverse transcriptase activity (reversetranscriptases and DNA polymerases), one or more inhibitors of reversetranscription (e.g., antibodies and antibody fragments directed againstpolypeptides having RT activity), one or more cap binding molecules(e.g., antibodies or antibody fragments directed against cap structure),nucleic acid synthesis reaction buffers, one or more nucleotides, one ormore vectors, and instructions for carrying out the methods of theinvention.

The invention also relates to compositions for use in the invention ormade while carrying out the methods of the invention. Such compositionsmay comprise at least one primer (e.g., oligo(dT) or derivativesthereof) and at least one template in a sample or reaction mixture inamounts or ratios in accordance with the invention. Such composition mayfurther comprise one or more polypeptides having reverse transcriptaseactivity, one or more reverse transcription inhibitors (e.g., anti-RTantibodies or fragments thereof), one or more nucleotides, one or morecap binding molecules (e.g., anti-cap antibodies for fragments thereof),one or more buffering salts and the like. Such compositions may also bemaintained at a temperature to avoid internal priming in accordance withthe invention.

The compositions of the invention may also comprise amounts ofribonuclease in accordance with the invention. Such compositions mayfurther comprise at least one component selected from one or moremRNA/cDNA hybrids, one or more nucleotides, one or more polypeptideshaving reverse transcriptase activity, one or more buffering salts, oneor more cap binding molecules (e.g., anti-cap antibodies or fragmentsthereof) and the like.

The invention also relates to one or more antibodies (monoclonal andpolyclonal) and fragments thereof for use in the methods, compositionsand kits of the invention. Such antibodies, include anti-cap and/oranti-RT antibodies and antibody fragments.

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following drawings anddescription of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized withSuperScript™ II (SS II) RT at 45° C. with a ⅚ Kb template with molarratios of oligo(dT)₂₅₋₃₀/mRNA of 1:1, 2.5:1, 5:1, 10:1, and 50:1.

FIG. 2 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized withThermoScript™ II (TS II) RT at 45° C., 50° C. and 55° C. with a ⅚ Kbtemplate with molar ratios of oligo (dT)₂₅₋₃₀/mRNA of 1:1, 2.5:1, 5:1,10:1, and 50:1.

FIG. 3 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized with SS IIRT using standard reaction temperatures and varying reactiontemperatures with a molar ratio of biotinylated-Not I-oligo(dT)₂₅/mRNAof 0:1, 1:1 and 15:1.

FIG. 4 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized with TS IIRT using standard reaction conditions in which the primer/templateannealing is incubated on ice prior to cDNA synthesis and usingconditions according to the invention in which annealing and thesynthesis reaction temperatures are maintained above 30° C. (preferablyabove 37° C.) with a molar ratio of biotinylated-Not I-oligo(dT)₂₅/mRNAof 1:1 and 15:1. Maintaining the annealing and reaction temperaturesabove 30° C. (preferably above 37° C.) in accordance with the inventionmay also be referred to as “hot start.”

FIG. 5 is an autoradiograph of second strand cDNA synthesized usingdifferent amounts of RNase A.

FIG. 6 is an autoradiograph of second strand cDNA synthesized usingdifferent amounts of RNase I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Definitions:

In order to provide a clearer and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided.

Internal priming as used herein refers to hybridization or annealing ofone or more primers at one or more sites within one or more mRNAmolecules other than at the poly A tail located at the 3′ termini of themRNA molecule.

Library as used herein refers to a set of nucleic acid molecules(circular or linear) which is representative of all or a portion orsignificant portion of the DNA content of an organism (a “genomiclibrary”), or a set of nucleic acid molecules representative of all or aportion or significant portion of the expressed genes (a “cDNA library”)in a cell, tissue, organ or organism. Such libraries may or may not becontained in one or more vectors.

Vector as used herein refers to a plasmid, cosmid, phagemid or phage DNAor other DNA molecule which is able to replicate autonomously in a hostcell, and which is characterized by one or a small number of restrictionendonuclease recognition sites at which such DNA sequences may be cut ina determinable fashion without loss of an essential biological functionof the vector, and into which DNA may be inserted in order to bringabout its replication and cloning. The vector may further contain one ormore markers suitable for use in the identification of cells transformedwith the vector. Markers, for example, include but are not limited totetracycline resistance or ampicillin resistance. Such vectors may alsocontain one or more recombination sites, one or more termination sites,one or more origins of replication, and the like.

Primer as used herein refers to a single-stranded oligonucleotide thatis extended by covalent bonding of nucleotide monomers duringamplification or polymerization of a DNA molecule. Preferred primers foruse in the invention include oligo(dT) primers or derivatives orvariants thereof.

Oligonucleotide as used herein refers to a synthetic or natural moleculecomprising a covalently linked sequence of nucleotides which are joinedby a phosphodiester bond between the 3′ position of the deoxyribose orribose of one nucleotide and the 5′ position of the deoxyribose orribose of the adjacent nucleotide.

Template as used herein refers to double-stranded or single-strandednucleic acid molecules which are to be amplified, synthesized orsequenced. In the case of a double-stranded molecules, denaturation ofits strands to form a first and a second strand is preferably performedbefore these molecules may be amplified, synthesized or sequenced, orthe double stranded molecule may be used directly as a template. Forsingle stranded templates, a primer, complementary to a portion of thetemplate is hybridized or annealed under appropriate conditions and oneor more polymerases or reverse transcriptases may then synthesize anucleic acid molecule complementary to all or a portion of saidtemplate. The newly synthesized molecules, according to the invention,may be equal or shorter in length than the original template.

Incorporating as used herein means becoming a part of a DNA and/or RNAmolecule or primer.

Amplification as used herein refers to any in vitro method forincreasing the number of copies of a nucleotide sequence with the use ofa polymerase. Nucleic acid amplification results in the incorporation ofnucleotides into a DNA and/or RNA molecule or primer thereby forming anew molecule complementary to a template. The formed nucleic acidmolecule and its template can be used as templates to synthesizeadditional nucleic acid molecules. As used herein, one amplificationreaction may consist of many rounds of replication. DNA amplificationreactions include, for example, polymerase chain reactions (PCR). OnePCR reaction may consist of 5 to 100 “cycles” of denaturation andsynthesis of a DNA molecule.

Nucleotide as used herein refers to a base-sugar-phosphate combination.Nucleotides are monomeric units of a nucleic acid sequence (DNA andRNA). The term nucleotide includes ribonucleoside triphosphate ATP, UTP,CTG, GTP and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates such as dATP, dCTP, dITP,dUTP, dGTP, dTTP, or derivatives thereof. Such derivatives include, forexample, [∀S]dATP, 7-deaza-dGTP, 7-deaza-dATP, and biotinylated orhaptenylated nucleotides. The term nucleotide as used herein also refersto dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (ddNTPs) and their derivatives.Illustrated examples of dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates include, butare not limited to, ddATP, ddCTP, ddGTP, ddITP, and ddTTP. According tothe present invention, a “nucleotide” may be unlabeled or detectablylabeled by well known techniques. Detectable labels include, forexample, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, chemiluminescentlabels, bioluminescent labels and enzyme labels.

Hybridization or annealing as used herein refers to base pairing of twocomplementary single-stranded nucleic acid molecules (RNA and/or DNA) togive a double-stranded molecule. As used herein, two nucleic acidmolecules may be hybridized or annealed, although the base pairing isnot completely complementary. Accordingly, mismatched bases do notprevent hybridization or annealing of two nucleic acid moleculesprovided that appropriate conditions, well known in the art, are used.In the present invention, the term hybridization or annealing preferablyrefers to hybridization of one or more primers (e.g., oligo(dT) orderivatives thereof) to one or more templates (e.g., mRNA).

Host cell as used herein refers to any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cellthat is the recipient of a replicable expression vector or cloningvector. The terms “host” or “host cell” may be used interchangeablyherein. For examples of such hosts, see Maniatis et al., “MolecularCloning: A Laboratory Manual,” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, ColdSpring Harbor, N.Y. (1982). Preferred prokaryotic hosts include, but arenot limited to, bacteria of the genus Escherichia (e.g., E. coli),Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Agrobacter (e.g., A. tumefaciens),Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Serratia, Caryophanon, etc. Themost preferred prokaryotic host is E. coli. Bacterial hosts ofparticular interest in the present invention include E. coli strainsK12, DH10B, DH5α, Stbl2 and HB101, and others available from LifeTechnologies, Inc. Preferred eukaryotic hosts include, but are notlimited to, fungi, fish cells, yeast cells, plant cells and animalcells. Particularly preferred animal cells are insect cells such asDrosophila cells, Spodoptera Sf9, Sf21 cells and Trichoplusa High-Fivecells; nematode cells such as C. elegans cells; and mammalian cells suchas COS cells, CHO cells, VERO cells, 293 cells, PERC6 cells, BHK cellsand human cells.

Expression vector as used herein refers to a vector which is capable ofenhancing the expression of a gene or portion of a gene which has beencloned into it, after transformation or transfection into a host cell.The cloned gene is usually placed under the control (i.e., operablylinked to) certain control sequences such as promoter sequences. Suchpromoters include but are not limited to phage lambda P_(L) promoter,and the E. coli lac, trp and tac promoters. Other suitable promoterswill be known to the skilled artisan.

The nucleic acid templates suitable for reverse transcription accordingto the invention include any nucleic acid molecule or populations ofnucleic acid molecules (preferably one or more RNA molecules (e.g., oneor more mRNA molecules or poly A⁺ RNA molecules, and more preferably apopulation of mRNA molecules) or one or more DNA molecules),particularly those derived from a cell or tissue. In a preferred aspect,a population of mRNA molecules (a number of different mRNA molecules)are used to make a cDNA library according to the present invention.

To make the nucleic acid molecule or molecules complementary to the oneor more templates, a primer (e.g., an oligo(dT) primer) and one or morenucleotides are used for nucleic acid synthesis typically in the 3′ to5′ direction. Nucleic acid molecules suitable for reverse transcriptionaccording to this aspect of the invention include any nucleic acidmolecule, particularly those derived from a prokaryotic or eukaryoticcell. Such cells may include normal cells, diseased cells, transformedcells, established cells, progenitor cells, precursor cells, fetalcells, embryonic cells, bacterial cells, yeast cells, animal cells(including human cells), avian cells, plant cells and the like, ortissue isolated from a plant (e.g., corn, tomato, tobacco, potato, soybean, etc.) or an animal (e.g., human, cow, pig, mouse, sheep, horse,monkey, canine, feline, rat, rabbit, bird, fish, insect, etc.). Suchnucleic acid molecules may also be isolated from viruses.

The nucleic acid molecules that are used as templates to prepare cDNAmolecules according to the methods of the present invention arepreferably obtained from natural sources, such as a variety of cells,tissues, organs or organisms. Cells that may be used as sources ofnucleic acid molecules may be prokaryotic (bacterial cells, includingbut not limited to those of species of the genera Escherichia, Bacillus,Serratia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Clostridium,Chlamydia, Neisseria, Treponema, Mycoplasma, Borrelia, Legionella,Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, Helicobacter, Erwinia, Agrobacterium,Rhizobium, Xanthomonas and Streptomyces) or eukaryotic (including fungi(especially yeasts), plants, protozoans and other parasites, and animalsincluding insects (particularly Drosophila spp. cells), nematodes(particularly Caenorhabditis elegans cells), and mammals (particularlyhuman cells)).

Mammalian somatic cells that may be used as sources of nucleic acidsinclude blood cells (reticulocytes and leukocytes), endothelial cells,epithelial cells, neuronal cells (from the central or peripheral nervoussystems), muscle cells (including myocytes and myoblasts from skeletal,smooth or cardiac muscle), connective tissue cells (includingfibroblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, chondroblasts, osteocytes andosteoblasts) and other stromal cells (e.g., macrophages, dendriticcells, Schwann cells). Mammalian germ cells (spermatocytes and oocytes)may also be used as sources of nucleic acids for use in the invention,as may the progenitors, precursors and stem cells that give rise to theabove somatic and germ cells. Also suitable for use as nucleic acidsources are mammalian tissues or organs such as those derived frombrain, kidney, liver, pancreas, blood, bone marrow, muscle, nervous,skin, genitourinary, circulatory, lymphoid, gastrointestinal andconnective tissue sources, as well as those derived from a mammalian(including human) embryo or fetus.

Any of the above cells, tissues and organs may be normal, diseased,transformed, established, progenitors, precursors, fetal or embryonic.Diseased cells may, for example, include those involved in infectiousdiseases (caused by bacteria, fungi or yeast, viruses (including AIDS,HIV, HTLV, herpes, hepatitis and the like) or parasites), in genetic orbiochemical pathologies (e.g., cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, Alzheimer'sdisease, muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis) or in cancerousprocesses. Transformed or established animal cell lines may include, forexample, COS cells, CHO cells, VERO cells, BHK cells, HeLa cells, HepG2cells, K562 cells, 293 cells, L929 cells, F9 cells, and the like. Othercells, cell lines, tissues, organs and organisms suitable as sources ofnucleic acids for use in the present invention will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art.

Once the starting cells, tissues, organs or other samples are obtained,nucleic acid molecules (such as mRNA) may be isolated therefrom bymethods that are well-known in the art (See, e.g., Maniatis, T., et al.,Cell 15:687-701 (1978); Okayama, H., and Berg, P., Mol. Cell. Biol.2:161-170 (1982); Gubler, U., and Hoffman, B. J., Gene 25:263-269(1983); and Message Maker™ mRNA Isolation System available from LifeTechnologies, Inc.). The nucleic acid molecules thus isolated may thenbe used to prepare cDNA molecules and cDNA libraries in accordance withthe present invention. The cDNA molecules and/or cDNA libraries producedin accordance with the invention are preferably contained in one or morevectors. Such vectors may be introduced into one or more host cells bystandard transformation or transfection techniques well known in theart. Preferred host cells include prokaryotic host cells such as cellsof the genus Escherichia, particularly E. coli.

Enzymes for use in the compositions, methods and kits of the inventioninclude any enzyme having reverse transcriptase activity. Such enzymesinclude, but are not limited to, retroviral reverse transcriptase,retrotransposon reverse transcriptase, hepatitis B reversetranscriptase, cauliflower mosaic virus reverse transcriptase, bacterialreverse transcriptase, Tth DNA polymerase, Taq DNA polymerase (Saiki, R.K., et al., Science 239:487-491 (1988); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,889,818 and4,965,188), Tne DNA polymerase (WO 96/10640), Tma DNA polymerase (U.S.Pat. No. 5,374,553) and mutants, fragments, variants or derivativesthereof (see, e.g., commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. Nos. 08/706,702 and 08/706,706, both filed Sep. 9, 1996, which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties). As will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art, modified reversetranscriptases and DNA polymerase having RT activity may be obtained byrecombinant or genetic engineering techniques that are well-known in theart. Mutant reverse transcriptases or polymerases can, for example, beobtained by mutating the gene or genes encoding the reversetranscriptase or polymerase of interest by site-directed or randommutagenesis. Such mutations may include point mutations, deletionmutations and insertional mutations. Preferably, one or more pointmutations (e.g., substitution of one or more amino acids with one ormore different amino acids) are used to construct mutant reversetranscriptases or polymerases for use in the invention. Fragments ofreverse transcriptases or polymerases may also be obtained by deletionmutation by recombinant techniques that are well-known in the art, or byenzymatic digestion of the reverse transcriptase(s) or polymerase(s) ofinterest using any of a number of well-known proteolytic enzymes.

Preferred enzymes for use in the invention include those that arereduced or substantially reduced in RNase H activity. Such enzymes thatare reduced or substantially reduced in RNase H activity may be obtainedby mutating the RNase H domain within the reverse transcriptase ofinterest, preferably by one or more point mutations, one or moredeletion mutations, and/or one or more insertion mutations as describedabove. By an enzyme “substantially reduced in RNase H activity” is meantthat the enzyme has less than about 30%, less than about 25%, less thanabout 20%, more preferably less than about 15%, less than about 10%,less than about 7.5%, or less than about 5%, and most preferably lessthan about 5% or less than about 2%, of the RNase H activity of thecorresponding wildtype or RNase H⁺ enzyme such as wildtype MoloneyMurine Leukemia Virus (M-MLV), Avian Myeloblastosis Virus (AMV) or RousSarcoma Virus (RSV) reverse transcriptases. The RNase H activity of anyenzyme may be determined by a variety of assays, such as thosedescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,797, in Kotewicz, M. L.,et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 16:265 (1988), in Gerard, G. F., et al., FOCUS14(5):91 (1992), and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,005, the disclosures of allof which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

Polypeptides having reverse transcriptase activity for use in theinvention may be obtained commercially, for example from LifeTechnologies, Inc. (Rockville, Md.), Pharmacia (Piscataway, N. J.),Sigma (Saint Louis, Mo.) or Boehringer Mannheim Biochemicals(Indianapolis, Ind.). Alternatively, polypeptides having reversetranscriptase activity may be isolated from their natural viral orbacterial sources according to standard procedures for isolating andpurifying natural proteins that are well-known to one of ordinary skillin the art (see, e.g., Houts, G. E., et al., J. Virol. 29:517 (1979)).In addition, the polypeptides having reverse transcriptase activity maybe prepared by recombinant DNA techniques that are familiar to one ofordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Kotewicz, M. L., et al., Nucl.Acids Res. 16:265 (1988); Soltis, D. A., and Skalka, A. M., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 85:3372-3376 (1988)).

Preferred polypeptides having reverse transcriptase activity for use inthe invention include M-MLV reverse transcriptase, RSV reversetranscriptase, AMV reverse transcriptase, Rous Associated Virus (RAV)reverse transcriptase, Myeloblastosis Associated Virus (MAV) reversetranscriptase and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) reversetranscriptase, and others described in WO 98/47921 and derivatives,variants, fragments or mutants thereof, and combinations thereof. In afurther preferred embodiment, the reverse transcriptases are reduced orsubstantially reduced in RNase H activity, and are most preferablyselected from the group consisting of M-MLV H⁻ reverse transcriptase,RSV H⁻ reverse transcriptase, AMV H⁻ reverse transcriptase, RAVH⁻reverse transcriptase, MAV H⁻ reverse transcriptase and HIV H⁻ reversetranscriptase, and derivatives, variants, fragments or mutants thereof,and combinations thereof. Reverse transcriptases of particular interestinclude AMV RT and M-MLV RT, and more preferably AMV RT and M-MLV RThaving reduced or substantially reduced RNase H activity (preferably AMVRT αH⁻/BH⁺ and M-MLV RT H⁻). The most preferred reverse transcriptasesfor use in the invention include SuperScript™, SuperScript™ II,ThermoScript™ and ThermoScript™ II available from Life Technologies,Inc. See generally, WO 98/47921, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,244,797 and 5,668,005,the entire contents of each of which are herein incorporated byreference.

A variety of DNA polymerases are useful in accordance with the presentinvention. Such polymerases include, but are not limited to, Thermusthermophilus (Tth) DNA polymerase, Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNApolymerase, Thermotoga neapolitana (Tne) DNA polymerase, Thermotogamaritima (Tma) DNA polymerase, Thermococcus litoralis (Tli or VENT™) DNApolymerase, Pyrococcus furioisis (Pfu) DNA polymerase, DEEPVENT™ DNApolymerase, Pyrococcus woosii (Pwo) DNA polymerase, Bacillussterothermophilus (Bst) DNA polymerase, Bacillus caldophilus (Bca) DNApolymerase, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (Sac) DNA polymerase, Thermoplasmaacidophilum (Tac) DNA polymerase, Thermus flavus (Tfl/Tub) DNApolymerase, Thermus ruber (Tru) DNA polymerase, Thermus brockianus(DYNAZYME™) DNA polymerase, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum (Mth)DNA polymerase, Mycobacterium spp. DNA polymerase (Mtb, Mlep), andmutants, variants and derivatives thereof.

DNA polymerases used in accordance with the invention may be any enzymethat can synthesize a DNA molecule from a nucleic acid template,typically in the 5′ to 3′ direction. Such polymerases may be mesophilicor thermophilic. Mesophilic polymerases include T4 DNA polymerase, T5DNA polymerase, T7 DNA polymerase, Klenow fragment DNA polymerase, DNApolymerase III, DNA polymerase I and the like. Thermostable DNApolymerases include Taq, Tne, Tma, Pfu, VENT™, DEEPVENT™, Tth andmutants, variants and derivatives thereof (U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,149; U.S.Pat. No. 5,512,462; WO 92/06188; WO 92/06200; WO 96/10640; Barnes, W.M., Gene 112:29-35 (1992); Lawyer, F. C., et al., PCR Meth. Appl.2:275-287 (1993); Flaman, J.-M., et al., Nucl. Acids Res.22(15):3259-3260 (1994)).

DNA polymerases for use in the invention may be obtained commercially,for example from Life Technologies, Inc. (Rockville, Md.), Perkin-Elmer(Branchburg, N.J.), New England BioLabs (Beverly, Mass.) or BoehringerMannheim Biochemicals (Indianapolis, Ind.).

The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid moleculesproduced by the methods of the invention, which may be cDNA molecules,especially full-length cDNA molecules, to vectors (particularlyexpression vectors) comprising these nucleic acid molecules and cDNAmolecules and to host cells comprising these nucleic acid molecules,cDNA molecules, and/or vectors.

Recombinant vectors may be produced according to this aspect of theinvention by inserting, using methods that are well-known in the art,one or more of the cDNA molecules or nucleic acid molecules preparedaccording to the present methods into one or more vectors. The vectorused in this aspect of the invention may be, for example, a phage or aplasmid vector, and is preferably a plasmid. Preferred are vectorscomprising cis-acting control regions to the nucleic acid encoding thepolypeptide of interest. Appropriate trans-acting factors may besupplied by the host, supplied by a complementing vector or supplied bythe vector itself upon introduction into the host.

Expression vectors useful in the present invention include chromosomal-,episomal- and virus-derived vectors, e.g., vectors derived frombacterial plasmids or bacteriophages, and vectors derived fromcombinations thereof, such as cosmids and phagemids, and will preferablyinclude at least one selectable marker such as a tetracycline orampicillin resistance gene for culturing in a bacterial host cell. Priorto insertion into such an expression vector, the cDNA or nucleic acidmolecules of the invention should be operatively linked to anappropriate promoter.

Among vectors preferred for use in the present invention include pQE70,pQE60 and pQE-9, available from Qiagen; pBS vectors, Phagescriptvectors, Bluescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, availablefrom Stratagene; pcDNA3 available from Invitrogen; pGEX, pTrxfus,pTrc99a, pET-5, pET-9, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 available fromPharmacia; and pSPORT1, pSPORT2, pSV•SPORT1, pCMVSPORT6 and pCMVSPORTavailable from Life Technologies, Inc. Other suitable vectors will bereadily apparent to the skilled artisan.

The invention may be used in conjunction with any methods of cDNAsynthesis that are well-known in the art (see, e.g., Gubler, U., andHoffman, B. J., Gene 25:263-269 (1983); Krug, M. S., and Berger, S. L.,Meth. Enzymol. 152:316-325 (1987); Sambrook, J., et al., MolecularCloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: ColdSpring Harbor Laboratory Press, pp. 8.60-8.63 (1989); PCT US98/19948;and WO 98/51699) to produce cDNA molecules or libraries. Other methodsof cDNA synthesis which may advantageously use the present inventionwill be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Having obtained cDNA molecules or libraries according to the presentmethods, these cDNAs may be isolated for further analysis ormanipulation. Detailed methodologies for purification of cDNAs aretaught in the GENETRAPPER™ manual (Life Technologies), which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, although alternativestandard techniques that are known in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook, J.,et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., Cold SpringHarbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pp. 8.60-8.63 (1989))may also be used. The cDNA molecules or libraries produced by theinvention may also be further manipulated by standard molecular biologytechniques such as two hybrid analysis, cDNA normalization, sequencingand amplification. More particularly, the methods of the invention andthe cDNA molecules or libraries produced by such methods may be used incombination with RT-PCR and 5′ RACE technology (Life Technologies, Inc.)and differential display.

A variety of inhibitors and binding molecules are suitable for use inthe present methods. Included among these inhibitors or bindingmolecules are antibodies that bind to the above-described polypeptideshaving reverse transcriptase activity (such as anti-RT antibodiesincluding anti-AMV RT antibodies, anti-M-MLV RT antibodies or anti-RSVRT antibodies) or to cap structure (e.g., anti-cap antibodies), andfragments thereof (such as Fab or F(ab′)₂ fragments). Such antibodiesmay be polyclonal or monoclonal, and may be prepared in a variety ofspecies according to methods that are well-known in the art. See, forinstance, Sutcliffe, J. G., et al., Science 219:660-666 (1983); Wilsonet al., Cell 37: 767 (1984); and Bittle, F. J., et al., J. Gen. Virol.66:2347-2354 (1985). Antibodies specific for any of the above-describedreverse transcriptases or cap structures can be raised against theintact polymerase polypeptide or cap structures or one or more fragmentsthereof. These polypeptides or cap structures or fragments thereof maybe presented together with a carrier protein (e.g., albumin) to ananimal system (such as rabbit or mouse) or, if they are long enough (atleast about 25 amino acids), without a carrier.

As used herein, the term “antibody” (Ab) may be used interchangeablywith the terms “polyclonal antibody” or “monoclonal antibody” (mAb),except in specific contexts as described below. These terms, as usedherein, are meant to include intact molecules as well as antibodyfragments (such as, for example, Fab and F(ab′)₂ fragments) which arecapable of specifically binding to a polypeptide having reversetranscriptase activity (such as a DNA polymerase or a reversetranscriptase) or cap structures or portions thereof.

The antibodies used in the methods of the present invention may bepolyclonal or monoclonal, and may be prepared by any of a variety ofmethods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,287). For example, polyclonalantibodies may be made by immunizing an animal with one or morepolypeptides having reverse transcriptase activity or cap structures orportions thereof according to standard techniques (see, e.g., Harlow,E., and Lane, D., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor,N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1988); Kaufman, P. B., etal., In: Handbook of Molecular and Cellular Methods in Biology andMedicine, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, pp. 468-469 (1995)).Alternatively, monoclonal antibodies (or fragments thereof) to be usedin the present methods may be prepared using hybridoma technology thatis well-known in the art (Köhler et al., Nature 256:495 (1975); Köhleret al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511 (1976); Köhler et al., Eur. J. Immunol.6:292 (1976); Hammerling et al., In: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-CellHybridomas, New York: Elsevier, pp. 563-681 (1981); Kaufman, P. B., etal., In: Handbook of Molecular and Cellular Methods in Biology andMedicine, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, pp. 444-467 (1995)).

It will be appreciated that Fab, F(ab′)₂ and other fragments of theabove-described antibodies may be used in the methods described herein.Such fragments are typically produced by proteolytic cleavage, usingenzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produceF(ab′)₂ fragments). Antibody fragments may also be produced through theapplication of recombinant DNA technology or through syntheticchemistry.

The invention also provides kits for use in accordance with theinvention. Such kits comprise a carrier means, such as a box or carton,having in close confinement therein one or more container means, such asvials, tubes, bottles and the like, wherein the kit may comprise (in thesame or separate containers) one or more host cells, one or more reversetranscriptases, one or more reverse transcription inhibitors, one ormore cap binding molecules, one or more DNA polymerases, suitablebuffers, one or more nucleotides and/or one or more primers (e.g.,oligo(dT) for reverse transcription). The kits encompassed by thisaspect of the present invention may further comprise additional reagentsand compounds necessary for carrying out standard nucleic acid reversetranscription protocols.

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant artthat other suitable modifications and adaptations to the methods andapplications described herein are obvious and may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention or any embodiment thereof.Having now described the present invention in detail, the same will bemore clearly understood by reference to the following examples, whichare included herewith for purposes of illustration only and are notintended to be limiting of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Comparison of First Strand cDNA Synthesis withVarying Ratios of Oligo (dT) Primer/mRNA

This example compares first strand cDNA synthesis of the MAP4 gene withvarious ratios of oligo dT primer/starting mRNA. All components areavailable from Life Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md., unless specifiedotherwise.

The master mix for Superscript II reverse transcriptase (SS II RT) wasprepared as specified in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Component μl μl 5X SSII RT buffer 4 28 0.1 M DTT 2 14 10 mM dNTP1 7 α-³²P dCTP 0.5 3.5 Water 1.5 10.5 Total volume 9 63

The master mix for ThermoScript™ II RT (TS RT) (AMV RT αH⁻PH⁺) (see WO98/47921) was prepared as specified in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Component μl μl 10X TS II buffer* 2 38 0.1 M DTT 2 38 10 mM dNTP2 38 α-³²P dCTP 0.5 9.5 Rnase OUT (40 u/μl) 1 19 Water 1.5 28.5 Totalvolume 9 171 *10X TS II buffer comprises 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.4), 750 mMKCl, and 75 mM MgCl₂.

The master annealing mix was prepared by adding a 5 Kb MAP4 mRNA,oligo(dT)₂₅₋₃₀ and water to 5 tubes in the amounts specified in Table 3below.

TABLE 3 Ratio of oligo (dT)/mRNA 1:1 2.5:1 5:1 10:1 50:1 ComponentVolume (μl) MAP4 mRNA (1 μg/μl) 5 5 5 5 5 Oligo(dT)₂₅₋₃₀ (10 ng/μl) 2.66.5 13.1 — — Oligo(dT)₂₅₋₃₀ (100 ng/μl) — — — 2.6 13.1 Water 42.4 38.531.9 42.4 31.9 Total volume 50 50 50 50 50

The mixture was heated at 70° C. for 10 minutes and then chilled on icefor 5 minutes.

Synthesis of first strand cDNA was done by adding 9 μl of theappropriate reverse transcriptase master mix, 10 μl of the masterannealing mix and 1 μt of either SS n RT (200 units/ul) or TS II RT (152units/ul) for a total volume of 20 μl as summarized in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Reverse Ratio of oligo (dT)₂₅₋₃₀/ Tube Transcriptase TemperaturemRNA 1 SS II 45° C. 1 2 2.5 3 5 4 10 5 50 1 TS II RT 45° C. 1 2 2.5 3 54 10 5 50 6 50° C. 1 7 2.5 8 5 9 10 10 50 11 55° C. 1 12 2.5 13 5 14 1015 50

The reactions were incubated for 1 hour at 45° C. for SS II RT and at45, 50 or 55° C. for TS II RT. The tubes were placed on ice to completethe reaction. 18 μl first stand cDNA of the reaction tube wasprecipitated and re-suspended in 10 μl of water. 5 μl of the firststrand cDNA was mixed with 5 μl of standard loading buffer (60 mM NaOH,4 mM EDTA, 0.1% bromophenol blue), and loaded onto 1.4% alkaline agarosegel for analysis. These results are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized with SS IIRT at 45° C. Lane M is the 1 kb DNA ladder. Lanes 1-5 representsreaction conditions with a molar ratio of oligo(dT)₂₅₋₃₀/mRNA of 1:1,2.5:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 50:1, respectively. FIG. 2 is an autoradiograph offirst strand cDNA synthesized with TS II RT. Lane M is the 1 kb DNAladder. Lanes 1-5 represent reaction conditions at 45° C. with a molarratio of oligo(dT)₂₅₋₃₀/mRNA of 1:1, 2.5:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 50:1,respectively. Lanes 6-10 represent reaction conditions at 50° C. with amolar ratio of oligo (dT)₂₅₋₃₀/mRNA of 1:1, 2.5:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 50:1,respectively. Lanes 11-15 represent reaction conditions at 55° C. with amolar ratio of oligo (dT)₂₅₋₃₀/mRNA of 1:1, 2.5:1, 5:1, 10:1 and 50:1,respectively. The results show that by reducing the molar ratio ofoligo(dT) primer/mRNA (preferably to 1:1) internal priming with reversetranscriptase was almost entirely eliminated.

Example 2 Comparison of First Strand cDNA Synthesis Under Standard andHot Start Conditions

This experiment was designed to compare first strand cDNA synthesis ofthe MAP4 gene with standard reaction and hot start conditions.

The annealing mix was prepared by mixing 1 μg of MAP4 mRNA andbiotinylated Not I oligo(dT)₂₅ primer ((Biotin)₄ GACTAGTTCTAGATCGCGAGCGG CCGCCCTTTTT TTTTTTTTTTTT TTTTTTTT (SEQ ID NO:1); see WO98/51699) in the desired molar ratio of oligo (dT)/mRNA of 0:1, 1:1 or15:1 in thin-walled PCR tubes and bringing the volume up to 10 μl withwater. If several tubes are identical, they may be made in one batch andaliquoted accordingly. The annealing mix was kept on ice.

The master mix for Superscript II reverse transcriptase (SS II RT) wasprepared as specified in Table 5 below.

TABLE 5 Component μl μl 5X SSII RT buffer 4 28 0.1 M DTT 2 14 10 mM dNTP1 7 α-³²P dCTP 0.5 3.5 SSII RT (200 u/μl) 1 7 Water 1.5 10.5 Totalvolume 10 70

The SS II RT master mix was then divided into two equal aliquots, onefor processing with standard reaction temperatures (batch 1) and one forprocessing with hot start reaction temperatures (batch 2). To allow forcondensation, an additional 10% volume of water was added to batch 2.All mixes were kept on ice.

Synthesis of first strand cDNA was begun by briefly spinning tubescontaining annealing mix to collect droplets, placing the tubes in athermocycler and then heating them to 70° C. for 10 minutes. After this10 minute cycle at 70° C., the tubes of annealing mix for batch 1 wereimmediately removed to ice. The tubes of annealing mix for batch 2 wereallowed to cool to 45° C. in the thermocycler while the batch 2 mastermix was placed in the thermocycler and incubated at 45° C. for 5minutes. After the 5 minute incubation, 11 μl of the master mix forbatch 2 was added to each batch 2 annealing tube and mixed with apipette 2 times. Care was taken not to spin the tubes to avoid loweringthe temperature.

10 μl of the master mix for batch 1 was added to each batch 1 annealingtube. The batch 1 tubes were lightly vortexed and briefly centrifuged tocollect condensation droplets. The batch 1 tubes were then returned tothe thermocycler and the tubes from both batch 1 and 2 were incubated at45° C. for one hour.

5 μl of the first strand cDNA from each tube was mixed with 5 μl ofstandard loading buffer (60 mM NaOH, 4 mM EDTA, 0.1% bromophenol blue)and loaded onto 1.4% alkaline agarose gel for analysis. The results areshown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized with SS IIRT. Lanes 1, 3 and 5 represents batch 1 reaction conditions with a molarratio of biotinylated oligo(dT)/mRNA of 0:1, 1:1 and 15:1, respectively.Lanes 2, 4 and 6 represents batch 2 reaction conditions with a molarratio of biotinylated oligo(dT)/mRNA of 0:1, 1:1 and 15:1, respectively.

First strand cDNA was also synthesized with TS II RT using 15 units ofTS II RT per μg mRNA using a biotinylated oligo(dT)/mRNA ratio of 1:1and 15:1. The same protocol described above was followed, except thatthe temperature was varied to 50° C. The results are shown in FIG. 4.FIG. 4 is an autoradiograph of first strand cDNA synthesized with TS IIRT. Lane M is the 1 kb DNA ladder. Lanes 1 and 3 represent reactionsconditions using standard reaction temperatures at a 1:1 ratio and 15:1ratio, respectively. Lanes 2 and 4 represent hot start reactionsconditions at a 1:1 ratio and 15:1 ratio, respectively, as describedabove.

The results indicated that by dropping the reaction temperature to thereverse transcriptase reaction temperature after denaturation of theprimer and mRNA mixture, the reaction was started directly and internalpriming was avoided entirely.

Example 3 Synthesis of Double Strand cDNA by Controlling the ReactionTemperature and the Concentration of Salt and RNase

This example describes the synthesis of double stranded cDNA bycontrolling the reaction temperature and the concentration of salt anddifferent ribonuclease (RNases) during the treatment of the cDNA/mRNAhybrids after first strand cDNA synthesis.

First strand cDNA was synthesized as described above in Example 2 anddigested with either RNase I or RNase A as further described below.

RNase I digestion of first strand cDNA was done by re-suspending thefirst strand cDNA in 180 μl of water and 20 μl of 10× RNase I buffer(100 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 50 mM EDTA, 2 M sodium acetate). 2.5 units ofRNase I (1 unit/μg mRNA) were added and the mixture was mixed well. TheRNase I digestion mixture was incubated at 25° C. for 30 minutes andextracted with phenol/chloroform once. The supernatant was precipitatedwith 1 μl of glycogen, 100 μl of ammonium acetate and 800 μl of ethanol.

RNase A digestion of first strand cDNA was done by re-suspending thefirst strand cDNA in 200 μl of digestion buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.5), 250 mM NaCl). 12.5 ng of RNase A (5 ng/μg mRNA) were added and themixture was mixed well. The RNase A digestion mixture was incubated at25° C. for 30 minutes and extracted with phenol/chloroform once. Thesupernatant was precipitated with 1 μl of glycogen, 100 μl of ammoniumacetate and 800 μl of ethanol.

Example 4 Enrichment of the Full-Length cDNA Clones with Cap-BindingProteins

This example describes enrichment of full-length cDNA clones with thecap-binding protein eIF4E.

cDNA was prepared by precipitating the RNase I treated first strand cDNAdescribed in Example 3 above and washing with 70% ethanol. The resultingpellet was dried at room temperature for 5 minutes, and re-suspended in210 μl of 10 mM KPO₄, 100 mM KCl, 2 mM EDTA, 6 mM DTT and 5% glycerol.The cDNA was stored on ice.

eIF4E glutathione sepharose 4B beads were prepared by first mixingglutathione sepharose 4B beads (Pharmacia, Sweden) well. To prepareeIF4E beads, a recombinant host cell expressing GST tagged eIF4E protein(the eIF4E gene was cloned into a GST fusion vector to create aN-terminal GST-eIF4E fusion gene) was grown and the fusion protein waspurified by standard techniques. Thus, the invention also relates torecombinant host cells expressing eIF4E protein (particularly as fusionproteins), to vectors comprising the genes expressing such proteins orfusion proteins and to the recombinant proteins or fusion proteinsproduced. In the present invention any tag can be used (e.g., His Tag,GST tag, HA tag, Trx tag, etc.). Such tags may be positioned at thecarboxy and/or N-terminal region of the eIF4E gene.

The GST-eIF4E fusion protein was complexed with sepharose 4B beads byglutathione coupling using gluthionine sepharose 4B beads (PharmaciaBiotech) following the manufacturers protocols. 200 μl of the beads weretransferred to a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, centrifuged for 1 second,and 75 μl of supernatant was removed. The beads were washed twice with 1ml of reaction buffer (10 mM KPO₄, 100 mM KCl, 2 mM EDTA, 6 mM DTT and5% glycerol), and re-suspended in 258 μl of reaction buffer, followed bythe addition of 42 μl (18 pmoles/μl) of eIF4E protein (600 pmoles/100 μlbeads). The mixture was mixed on a head to head roller at 4° C. for 30minutes. The mixture was then centrifuged for 1 second, and thesupernatant was removed. The beads were washed twice with 1 ml ofreaction buffer and once with 1 ml of 25 μg/ml yeast tRNA in reactionbuffer. 20 μl of reaction buffer and 5 μg of yeast tRNA were then addedto the beads. 200 μl of RNase I treated cDNA was added to the beads, andthe content was mixed on a roller at room temperature for 1 hour. After1 hour, the mixture was centrifuged for 1 second, and the supernatantwas removed. The beads were washed twice with 1 ml of reaction bufferand once with 1 ml of 500 μM GDP in reaction buffer. The cDNA was elutedtwice with 250 μl of 500 μM GDP in reaction buffer. The eluted solutionswere pooled and centrifuged for 1 minute to remove the beads. The elutedcDNA was extracted twice with an equal volume of phenol/chloroform. ThecDNA was divided into two tubes and precipitated with 1 μl of glycogen,0.5 volume of 7.5 M ammonium acetate and 2.5 volume of ethanol.

Example 5 Evaluation of the cDNA Library

To evaluate the quality of the cDNA libraries constructed with theabove-described full-length methods, the MAP4 gene (5-6 kb) and othergenes was selected as the target genes. MAP4 and other cDNA clones wereisolated from libraries constructed by standard methods well-known inthe art (see SuperScript™ Plasmid Manual, Life Technologies, Inc.) andthe above-described full-length methods with 3′ and 5′ GeneTrapper cDNAPositive Selection System (Life Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md.). Thepositive clones were size analyzed by PCR. Tables 6 and 7 belowsummarizes the results of the enrichment of full-length cDNA clones inhuman fibroblast cDNA libraries constructed with methods well-known inthe art (control) and the full-length methods described above(full-length method).

TABLE 6 % full-length with % full-length with 5′ GeneTrapper 3′GeneTrapper Gene control* full-length method control* full-length methodMAP4 12.8 90.3 6.25 37.5 (5-6 kb)

The control library was constructed with SS II RT using known methods.

TABLE 7 Full-length of % Full-length by Gene name gene (Kb) 5′GeneTrapper MAP4 (Microtubule-associated 5/6 90.3 protein 4) β-Adaptin*3.8/5.7 90.0 TR (Transferrin receptor) 5.0 45.0 PTK (Protein tyrosineKinase) 3.0 84.4 RPA (DNA Replication protein A) 1.4 98.0 *There are twomembers of the genes, 3.8 kb and 5.7 kb in the family.

These results show that the full-length methods described aboveyielded >90% full-length cDNA clones with the 5′ GeneTrapper system,compared to <13% using standard methods. Furthermore, theabove-described full-length methods yielded >37% full-length clones withthe 3′ GeneTrapper system, as compared to <7% using standard methods.

Example 6 First Strand cDNA Synthesis, RNase I Digestion and eIF-4ECapture

All conditions and parameters described above in Examples 2, 3 (RNase I)and 4 were followed, except for the following: 4 reactions of 10 μg ofhuman fibroblast cytoplasmic mRNA were used per reaction (see WO98/45311); the biotinylated primer-adapter(Biotin)₄-GACTAGTTCTAGATCGCGAGCGGCCGCCC(T)₂₅ (SEQ ID NO:1) was used at a1:1 primer/mRNA molar ratio; TS II RT was used at 50° C.; and SS II RTwas used at 45° C. Table 8 below summarizes the first strand cDNA andeIF-4E capture results.

Example 7 Second Strand cDNA Synthesis

Second strand cDNA was synthesized by first dissolving each of the fourreaction pellets obtained in Example 6 above in 104 μl of DEPC-treatedwater and then adding the following reagents to each reaction:

4 μl of 5× First Strand Buffer*

30 μl of 5× Second Strand Buffer*

2 μl of 0.1 M DTT

4 μl of 100 mM dNTPs

1 μl of E. coli DNA ligase (10 units/μl)

1 μl of E. coli RNAse H (2 units/μl)

4 μl of E. coli DNA polymerase (10 units/μl)

see SuperScript Plasmid System manual (Life Technologies, Inc.,Rockville, Md.)

These reactions mixtures were then incubated for 2 hours at 16° C. 2 μlof T4 DNA polymerase (5 units/μl) was added and incubation at 16° C. wascontinued for 5 more minutes.

Example 8 Streptavidin Bead Preparation

During the last 30 minutes of the 2 hour second strand reactiondescribed in Example 7 above, streptavidin paramagnetic beads wereprepared as follows.

Streptavidin paramagnetic beads (Seradyn) were gently mixed by pipettinguntil the beads were completely re-suspended. 150 μl of the mixed beadswere transferred to the bottom of a microcentrifuge tube for eachreaction. The tubes were inserted into a Magna-Sep Magnetic ParticleSeparator (Life Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md.) (the magnet) and letsit for 2 minutes. While the tubes were in the magnet, the supernatantwas removed by pipetting and 100 μl of TE buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.5), 1 mM EDTA) was immediately added to the beads.

The tubes were then removed from the magnet and the beads were gentlyre-suspended by finger tapping or vortexing at the lowest setting. Thetubes were re-inserted into the magnet. After 2 minutes, the supernatantwas removed, the beads were re-suspended in 160 μl of binding buffer (10mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 1 mM EDTA, 1 M NaCl) and the tubes were placedinto a microcentrifuge tube rack.

Example 9 Capture of the Double-Stranded cDNA Library

After incubating the second strand reaction with T4 DNA polymerase asdescribed in Example 7 above, the reaction mixtures were placed on iceand 10 μl of 0.5 M EDTA was added. Then the cDNA library was capturedaccording to the following procedure (see generally WO 98/51699).

The paramagnetic beads prepared according to Example 8 were transferredto the second strand reaction mixture tubes and gently mixed bypipetting and the suspension was incubated for 60 minutes at roomtemperature. The tubes were then inserted into the magnet. After 2minutes, the supernatant was removed and discarded.

100 μl of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 1 mM EDTA, 500 mM NaCl)was added to the beads, the beads were re-suspended by finger tapping orgently vortexing at the lowest setting and the tubes were re-insertedinto the magnet for 2 minutes. The supernatant was removed anddiscarded. This washing step was repeated one more time and then 100 μlof wash buffer was added to the beads. The tubes were then againinserted into the magnet for 5 minutes.

Example 10 Not I Digestion

After the 5 minute incubation described in the last step of Example 9,the supernatant was removed and discarded from the paramagnetic beadsand 41 μl of autoclaved, distilled water, 5 μl of REact 3 buffer, 4 μlof Not I was added and the beads were mixed well by pipetting. Thereaction was then incubated for 2 hours at 37° C. The tubes were theninserted into the magnet for 2 minutes and the supernatant containingthe cDNA library was transferred to fresh tubes.

50 μl of phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) was added to thesupernatant, the solution was vortexed thoroughly, and then centrifugedat room temperature for 5 minutes at 14,000×g. 45 μl of the upper,aqueous layer was carefully removed and transferred to freshmicrocentrifuge tubes. 23 μl of 7.5 M ammonium acetate, 1 μl of glycogen(20 μg) and 172 μl of ethanol (−20° C.) was added. The solution wasmixed well and stored on dry ice (or −70° C. freezer) for 15 min.

The ethanol solution was then centrifuged at 4° C. for 30 minutes at14,000×g. The supernatant was carefully removed from the small pellets.100 μl of 70% ethanol was added and the tubes were centrifuged at roomtemperature for 2 minutes at 14,000×g. The ethanol was removed and thepellets were dried in a speed-vac for 2 minutes or until dry. Thepellets were then dissolved in 20 μl of TE buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH7.5), 0.1 mM EDTA). The final yield of cDNA was determined by theCerenkov counts (see Table 8 below).

TABLE 8 standard (S) or Amount of Reverse varied (V) % IncorporationcDNA after Transcriptase temperature (ng of cDNA) eIF-4E capture TS IIRT S 27% (2,720 ng) 512 ng TS II RT V (hot start) 26% (2,640 ng) 473 ngSS II RT S 46% (4,560 ng) 306 ng SS II RT V (hot start) 47% (4,730 ng)363 ng

Example 11 Ligation of cDNA to the Vector and Introduction into E. coli

From 10 to 30 ng of the un-fractionated or size fractionated (≧1.5 kb bylow melting gel electrophoresis) cDNA was ligated into a vectorpCMVSPORT 6 (Life Technologies, Inc.). This ligation was introduced intoE. coli by electroporation as described in the SuperScript PlasmidSystem manual (Life Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md.), except that thecloning vector was pre-digested with Not I and Eco RV.

Sequence analysis of randomly selected clones from the cDNA libraryconstructed (304 clones) were analyzed by 5′ and 3′ sequencing todetermine the total percentage of full-length random clones in the cDNAlibrary. Sequences were compared for homology with GeneBank sequences.The results are summarized in Table 9 below. Based on the results,approximately 68% of the random clones were full-length (including knownfull-length clones and unknown full-length clones). Thus, approximately17% unknown full-length clones were obtained from the human fibroblastcytoplasmic mRNA library.

TABLE 9 Number of Clones Percentage Total Sequences 304 73.3%  Sequences with Homology 223 51% Full-Length Clones 114 17% PotentiallyFull-Length 39 17% Partial Clones 70 31%

Example 12 RNAse Assay

First strand cDNA was treated with RNase A at 1000 ng/μg mRNA in TEbuffer (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 1 mM EDTA) and RNase I 25 to 40 u/μgmRNA in TEN (10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 5 mM EDTA (pH 8.0), 200 mM SodiumAcetate) at 37° C. essentially as described in Example 3. However, thistreatment with large amounts of RNase at elevated temperatures resultedin libraries containing very small average cDNA insert size (about 200bp). Therefore, a second strand cDNA assay was developed to determinethe optimal amount of RNase needed.

First strand cDNA (radioactively labeled and non-radioactively labeled)was synthesized using HeLa mRNA at 500 ng of RNA/reaction. The firststrand cDNA was precipitated with ethanol and dissolved in DEPC-treatedwater. The cold first strand cDNA was added to RNase buffer withdifferent amounts of RNase. After incubation for 30 minutes at 25° C.,the treated cDNA was extracted with phenol:chloroform and precipitatedwith ethanol. The treated cDNA was dissolved in DEPC-treated water, asecond strand cDNA reaction was performed with ³²P-dCTP plus and minusRNase H. The reaction was extracted with phenol:chloroform andprecipitated with ethanol. Equal amounts of cpm was electrophoresed intoa 1.4% alkaline-agarose gel. The results are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is an autoradiograph of second strand cDNA synthesized usingdifferent amounts of RNase A. Lane M is the 1 kb DNA ladder. Lane 1represents untreated first strand cDNA. Lane 2 represents untreatedsecond strand cDNA. Lanes 3, 5, 7 and 9 represent second strand cDNAsynthesized without RNase H and with RNase A concentrations of 0, 1.25ng, 2.5 ng and 5 ng, respectively. Lanes 4, 6, 8 and 10 represent secondstrand cDNA synthesized with RNase H and with RNase A at concentrationsof 0, 1.25 ng, 2.5 ng and 5 ng, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an autoradiograph of second strand cDNA synthesized usingdifferent amounts of RNase I. Lane M is the 1 kb DNA ladder. Lane 1represents untreated first strand cDNA. Lane 2 represents untreatedsecond strand cDNA. Lanes 3, 5, 7 and 9 represent second strand cDNAsynthesized without RNase H and with RNase I concentrations of 0, 0.5 u,1.25 u and 2.5 u, respectively. Lanes 4, 6, 8 and 10 represent secondstrand cDNA synthesized with RNase H and with RNase I at concentrationsof 0, 0.5 u, 1.25 u and 2.5 u, respectively.

These gel analysis demonstrated that a concentration of 1.25 ng of RNAseA (see FIG. 5) or 0.5 units of RNAse I (see FIG. 6) may be optimal touse with 500 ng of starting mRNA.

Example 13 Preparation of Antibodies Against Cap Structure

The antibody to cap was generated using m7guanosnine-KLH as the antigen.1200 hybridomas were plated and only 120 colonies were generated. Ofthese only 6 colonies were positive for cap. After further analysis, 3were determined to have the affinity required. The first screen ELISAconsists of binding m7guanosine-BSA to an ELISA plate, block with BSA,bind hybridoma supernatants, react with secondary antibody and determinepositives via a calorimetric reaction with BCIP/NPT. The secondaryscreen included incubating appropriate dilutions of the hybridomasupernatants with either 0.1 mM m7GTP, 0.1 mM cap analog M⁷G^(5′)ppp^(5′) G, 0.5 mM m7guanosine or 0.5 mM GTP. The pretreated supernatantwas then used in the standard ELISA procedure. The GTP did not competewith the m7guanosine-BSA whereas the m7 versions all competedefficiently.

Having now fully described the present invention in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itwill be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the same can beperformed by modifying or changing the invention within a wide andequivalent range of conditions, formulations and other parameterswithout affecting the scope of the invention or any specific embodimentthereof, and that such modifications or changes are intended to beencompassed within the scope of the appended claims.

All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled inthe art to which this invention pertains, and are herein incorporated byreference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patentor patent application was specifically and individually indicated to beincorporated by reference.

1. (canceled)
 2. A composition comprising at least one polypeptide having reverse transcriptase activity and an antibody or antibody fragment inhibitor of the polypeptide having reverse transcriptase activity.
 3. The composition of claim 2, further comprising one or more mRNA templates, or one or more poly A RNA templates and a primer.
 4. The composition of claim 2, wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is monoclonal.
 5. The composition of claim 2, wherein said polypeptide is a reverse transcriptase selected from the group consisting of Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus reverse transcriptase (M-MLV RT), Rous Sarcoma Virus reverse transcriptase (RSV RT), Avian myeloblastosis Virus reverse transcriptase (AMV RT), Rous associated Virus reverse transcriptase (RAV RT), Myeloblastosis associated virus reverse transcriptase (MAV RT) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus reverse transcriptase (HIV RT), and fragments thereof having reverse transcriptase activity.
 6. The composition of claim 5, wherein said reverse transcriptase is reduced in RNase H activity.
 7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said RNase H activity is reduced to less than about 30% of RNase H activity of a corresponding wildtype reverse transcriptase.
 8. The composition of claim 2, wherein said inhibitor inhibits, prevents, or reduces internal priming.
 9. The composition of claim 3, wherein the primer to template ratio is between 12:1 and 1:12.
 10. The composition of claim 9, wherein said primer to template ratio is between 10:1 and 1:10.
 11. The composition of claim 9, wherein said primer to template ratio is between 5:1 and 1:5.
 12. The composition of claim 3, wherein said primer has a length of between 20 and 100 bases.
 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said length is between 20 and 75 bases.
 14. The composition of claim 12, wherein said length is between 20 and 50 bases.
 15. The composition of claim 12, wherein said length is between 25 and 35 bases.
 16. The composition of claim 2, wherein said polypeptide is a retroviral reverse transcriptase.
 17. The composition of claim 2, wherein said polypeptide is a reverse transcriptase selected from the group consisting of M-MLV RT, RSV RT and AMV RT.
 18. The composition of claim 17, wherein said reverse transcriptase is a M-MLV RT having an RNase H activity less than about 30% of the RNase H activity of the corresponding wildtype M-MLV RT.
 19. The composition of claim 17, wherein said reverse transcriptase is selected from the group consisting of SUPERSCRIPT™ (mutant M-MLV RT having reduced RNase H activity), SUPERSCRIPT™ II (mutant M-MLV RT having reduced RNase H activity), THERMOSCRIPT™ (mutant AMV RT having reduced RNase H activity) and THERMOSCRIPT™ II (mutant AMV RT having reduced RNase H activity).
 20. The composition of claim 2, wherein said one or more mRNA templates is a population of mRNA templates suitable for the production of a cDNA library.
 21. The composition of claim 2, wherein said primer is an oligo(dT) primer. 